Improvement in lamp-black apparatus



UNITED STATES PATE JOHN M. CORNELL, or NEW YORK, N. v.

lMPROVEMENT IN LAMP-BLACK APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,672, datedADecember l0, 1878; application iiled September l?, 1878.

To all 'Lc-hom "it may concer-11,;

Beit known that I, JOHN MILTON CORNELL, of the city and county of NewYork, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Lamp-Black Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact specification.

My present invention relates to the manufacture ofthe finer qualities oflamp-black or carbon-black for printers ink, Ste.

My said invention consists, first, in the combination, in alamp-blackapparatus, of asmokeproducing burner adapted to form a thin annularflame, and having a central air-tube for the admission of air to theinterior of said iiame, and a concentric chimney supported above saidburner, and in which the impurities of the carbon are consumed by theflame of said burner, said chimney being provided with semi-annulardampers at its lower end to close the space between the chimney and thename more or less completely, at will, to regulate the access of air tothe exterior or' the iiame within said chimney for determining thequality and quantity of the product. The air has constant accessexternally to the base of the iiame for supporting ignition.

My said invention consists, secondly, in the combination, iu alamp-black apparatus, of a smoke-producing burner adapted to form a thinannular flame, and having a central airtube for the admission of air tothe interior of said name, a concentric chimney supported above saidburner, and in which the impurities Oi' the carbon are consumed by theliame of said burner, and a tree smoke-blaclt-collecting chamber, whichreceives the purified carbon particles directly from said chimney. Thefinest qualities ol black are thus produced without danger of reburning, and consequently with the highest luster and blackness. Saidpurifying-chimney forms a retort, in which the iiame, with its more orless abundant supply of oxygen, applies the requisite heat to the carbonparticles for their purification before they are liberated, and saidchimney in this combination insures the desired eii'ect, however rapidlythe operation proceedsA My said invention consists, thirdly, in apeculiar combination of parts for producing puricd lamp-black fromhydrocarbon oil or gas by consuming the impurities of the carbon in thesmoke-producing ilame, and collecting the purified carbon particleswithout danger of rebnrnin g the same, a series of free smokecollectingchambers being employed, together with one or more connecting-screens.

My said invention consists, fourthly, in a peculiar combination of partsfor producing puriiied lamp-black by said process with superior rapidityand efficiency, a draft-jet being employed for drawing the requisite airinto contact with the name and for drawing the smoke through saidscreens.

My said invention consists, iifthly, in a peculiar combination of partsfor producing difierent grades oi' purified lamp-black by said processat one and the same speed, Ste., one or more dampers being employed toregulate the admission of air to the ilame, as hereinafter more fullyset forth.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawing represents a vertical section oi' alamp-black apparatus illustrating this invention, the lamp and itschimney being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of thesame, showing a plan of its upper part. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views,and Fig. 5 a vertical section, of the lamp and its chimney. Fig. Gis alongitudinal section, and Fig. 7 a transverse section, of another lamp,illustrating a modification.

The planes of the respective sections are i11- dicated bycorrespondinglynumbered lines across other gures.

Like letters oi' reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

An apparatus for making lamp black according to this invention may be ofany desired capacity, as determined by the size and number of its lamps.

In the illustration a single lamp, L, is employed, being located whilein use beneath the center oi a horizontal elevated platform or floor, F,which is supported by corner posts or legs L4, and serves to support ametallic chimney, C, above the lamp, and also to support anopen-bottomed rectangular smoke box or collector, S, the edges of saidiioor F having vertical flanges to prevent any displacement of thesmoke-box.

rlhe lamp L is of peculiar construction, as illustrated by Figs. 3 and5, having a vertical tube, a, extendin g upward from below the bottomlof the oil-reservoir to a point at or about the top of a concentricouter wick tube or neck, b, which projects upward from the top of thereservoir. An ample Argand wick, c, is thus accommodated, and air isadmitted to the interior of the name, the reservoir being elevated bylegs d4. Longitudinal slots c4 in the neck b provide for elevating thewick in the most simple manner, and a screw-cap, f, provides for llingthe reservoir.

Any approved wick-elevator may be substituted, and the oil may besupplied to the reservoir automatically, if preferred.

A cylindrical, or nearly cylindrical, air-tube, a, is represented inFigs. 3 and 5. The lamp I2, (shown in Figs. 6 and 7,) illustrates theemployment of an air-tube, a2, in the form of an inverted funnel, toinsure an ample supply of air by the concentration of a larger current.Otherwise said lamp L2 is substantially the same as the lamp L.

To regulate the supply of air to the interior of the flame, a damper, g,is pivoted within the air-tube a; and to regulate the supply of air `tothe exterior of the iiame, a pair of semi-annular dampers, h, arepivoted within the lower end of the chimney G, so as to close more or'less of the space around the flame, the latter `being locatedconcentrically within the chim- `sufficient to confine the name, so asto burn out all impurities in the carbon, as nearly as may be, when afull supply of air is admitted.

In the illustration the chimney is supported loosely in the iioor F bylugs i3, adapted to pass through notches js. This provides for droppingthe chimney, so as to facilitate scraping said oor.

The smoke-box S is divided horizontally by a second door, F2, belowwhich a collectingchamber, C1, is formed. The upper end of the chimney Cis located sufficiently far below this second floor to precludereburning the carbon thereon, a free escape of the smoke into thesurrounding space being provided.v

A considerable quantity of good black will consequently collect on thesurfaces of the chamber C1, and access is had thereto for periodicallyremoving the accumulations by lifting and inverting the smoke-box.

The space above the floor F2 is divided by vertical partitions into aseries of compartments, C2 C3 C* C5, communicating with the chamber O1and with each other by means of screens k1 k2 7c3 7a4, of finewire-gauze, which fill 'orifices in said floor F2, and in saidpartitions near said floor, and tend to arrest the carbon particles.kRemovable covers Z4 provide for readily scraping out the uppercompartments.

An escape-pipe, E, extends from near the top of the last of said seriesof upper compartments and through an outer wall of the smoke-box, beyondwhich a small steam or air pipe, on, enters said escape-pipe andterminates in a nozzle, a, by which a draft-jet is formed.

A convenient valve or stop-cock will be employed to regulate, the forceof the jet, and one escape-pipe and jet may serve for several series ofcollecting-chambers.

In operation, the said jet draws the smoke from the chambers Gl throughthe screens k1 k2 7c3 7a4, the same becoming moreand more attenuated,and the gaseous portion alone, mingled with steam orair, passes outthrough the escape-pipe E. Extending its effect to the lamp-chimney Gand air-tube a, said jet operates to increase the draft of the same moreor less, and thus to Vary the supply of air to the flame under controlof the damper g h.

When the dampers are opened to their fullest extent and the draft-jet isin operation the iinest quality of black is produced; and when thedampers are closed the greatest quantity is produced for a givencombustion of oil; but the more abundant product is necessarily lesspure.

By partially opening the dampers more or less, any intermediate grade ofblack can be as readily produced, and the ntmostuniformity in theproduction of any desired grade is secured.

The apparatus will be constructed of snitble metal, the mechanicaldetails of construction to be determined by the material and size ofeach apparatus, and by the taste and skillv of the builder.

I propose in some vcases to use an Argand gas-burner in lieu of a lampin connection with the purifyingchimney and collectingchambers abovedescribed; but I do not claim an Argand gas-burner per se as a part ofthe present invention.

I am aware that Argandlamps for illuminating purposes have beenconstructed with airtnbes extending through their oil-reservoirs; but noone has ever before constructed a smokeproducing lamp for carbon-blackapparatus with such an air-tube, so far as I am aware; and, as thusapplied, said tube operates as a provision for burning out theimpurities of the carbon, and not to insure the combustion of the carbonparticles.

The draft-jet, gauze-screens, and other individual parts of my apparatusare also disclaimed, except as combined or arranged to operate in themanner and for the purposes herein specified.

Ihe following is what I claim as new and of my own invention, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, namely:

1. The combination, in a lamp black apparatus, of a smoke-producingburner having a central air-tube, a concentric vchimney supported abovesaid burner, and in which the impurities of the carbon are consumed bythe iame of said burner, and a pair. of semi-annular dampers at thebottom of said chimneyfor regulating the access ci air to the exteriorof saidiiame, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, in a lamp-black apparatus, of a smoke-producingburner, having a central air-tube, a concentric chimney supported abovesaid burner, and in which the impurities oi.' the carbon are consumed bythe flame of said burner, and a free smoke-blackcollecting chambercommunicating` directly with the tcp ci' said chimney, substantially asherein shown and described, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, in a lamp-black apparatus, of a smoke-producingburner having a central air-tube, a concentric chimney supported abovesaid burner, and in which the impurities of the carbon are consumed bythe iiameof said burner, and a series of free smokeblack -collecting`chambers and connectingscreens of fine gauze to arrest the liberated andpurified lcarbon particles, as herein specified.

4. The combination, in a lamp-black apparatus, ot' a smoke-producingburner having a central air-tube, a concentric chimney supported abovesaid burner7 and in which the impurities of the carbon are consumed bythe flame of said burner, a series of free smokeblack -ccllectingchambers and connectingscreens of fine gauze to arrest the liberated andpurified carbon particles, and an escapepipe containing a draft-jet fordrawing air into said air-tube and chimney and the smoke through saidscreens, as herein set forth.

5. rEhe combination, in a lamp-black apparatus, of a smoke-producingburner having a central air-tube, a concentric chimney supported abovesaid burnerl1 and in which the impurities of the carbon are consumed bythe ame of said burner, a series of free smokeblack collecting chambersand connectin gscreens of line gauze to arrest the liberated andpurified carbon particles, an escape-pipe containing a draft-jet fordrawing air into said air-tube and chimney and the smoke through saidscreens, and dampers for regulating the admission of air into saidair-tube and chimney, and thereby regulating the quality and quantity ofthe product, as herein specified.

JOHN M. CORNELL.

Witnesses:

JAs. L. EWIN, lsrnon Guai-'Hann

